Serial multiway valve



July 4, 1939. J. s. FRECHETTE.'

SEKIAL MULTIWAY VALVE Filed March 16. 1,937 5 Sheets-Sheet l July 4, 1939. .1.y s.'|=RE :HE1-1'E v 2,165,096

SERIAL MULTIWAY VALVE Filed March 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2r @www July 4, 1939-A J. s. FRECHE'TTE u SERIAL MULTIWAY VLVE vs 'sheets-smet 5 Filed March 1e, 1937 f ...IIE

Patented July 4, "1939 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SERIAL MULTIWAY VALVE .lohn S. Frechette, Providence, R. I. Application March 16, 1937, Serial No. 131,205

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in serial multiway valves.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple compact multi-way valve unit complete in itself 5 and constructed of a small number of,unitary parts, each of which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and which may be readily assembled and disassembled, if desired, or may readily have its ow functions changed by the l0 mere boring of different holes in the rotor portion thereof, and/or by making changes of holes in the stator portion thereof. I provide therefore a valve structure which may be made in its various parts as a standard unit permitting the manufacture of a large number of such units for stock and the cutting of the necessary holes therein suitable for the specific use of the valve on order and if desired permitting reconstruction of the valve by plugging up certain holes and making other holes on order permitting the'use of the same valve for a different purpose.

Further features of my invention relate to the means I preferably employ therein to seal the valve against leakage at all points.

Z5 A further feature of my invention is to provide a serial multi-way valve of relatively low maintenance cost and as a feature in this respect I preferably employ a liningv between the valve and its valve seat, which may be readily replaced after wear between the valve and valve seat to permit the use of the valve longer inasmuch as whatever wear may take place between the valve and valve seat may be taken up by the lining ed to awide variety of uses or different conditions,

such as pneumatics or hydraulics,'permitting re- 40 versibility of flow functions if desired. As stated an additionalv feature of my invention isthatthe valve structure may be readily adapted for different uses by selectively and variably spacing the flow holes in the stator and rotor to accom- 4,-, plish different purposes. Among the uses, as shown in the accompanying drawings, one is in connection with my improved power plant or portable automotive truck jack, as shown and described in my copending application for patent for Hydraulic pneumatic power plant particularly for use with portable jacks, Serial No. 99,256, flied September 3, 1936, and another for which my improved valve is particularly adapted is in a hydraulic mechanism of the type now employed for opening and closing vehicular doors by means of hydraulic or pneumatic pressure and it is apparent that my improved valve may be readily constructed to open a front set of doors and a rear set of doors selectively or collectively and similarly close them It is also apparent that 5' by merely selecting the number of and spacings between said holes, any number of positions of the valve, such as a complete shutoff, a neutral or leakage position or varying positive flow positions thereof may be readily provided. l0

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate two different embodiments thereof, one of a type adapted for use in a hy- 15 draulic pneumatic automotive jack and the other of a type adapted for use in an automotive bus door opening and closing mechanism.

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention particularly adapted for use in 20 controlling the air flow for raising and lowering the hydraulic pneumatic jack, the subject matter of my aforementioned application with the valve so constructed as to be capable of being moved to four positions, namely, (l) a jack raising posi- 25 tion, (2) a jack positively lowering position, (3) a neutral gravity leakage `position and (4) :a complete shutoff position. y Fig. 2 is 'a disassembled perspective view of they embodiment of vmy invention shown in Fig. 1.` 30

` Figs'. 3-6 are horizontal-sectional views of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing .the lrotor and stator'relatively rotated to perform Athe four above. mentioned ow functions,fFi'g; 3 showing vthe lparts thereof in a posi- 35' tion to'raise the jack, Fig. 4 showing the-parts thereof in a position to positively lower the jack, Fig. 5 showing the parts thereof in av position permittingleakage and hence gravity lowering of the jack and Fig. 6 illustrating the parts there- 40 of in a positive shut-off position.

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view through my improved multi-way valve taken along the line 'i-'i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through my 45 valve taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating my jack mounted adjacent the top portion of the hydraulic reservoir and cylinder of my aforedescribed improved automotive jack, por- 50 tions of said cylinder and reservoir being shown in section. f

Fig, 10 is a plan view of a valve constructed in accordance with my invention and provided with the suitable spacings of a suitable number of 55 holes to provide suitable selective flow passages from a source of pneumatic power to 1) simultaneously open both front and rear sets of doors on an automotive bus, (2) to selectively open the front doors and simultaneously close the rear doors, (3) to selectively close the rear doors and to simultaneously open the front doors and (4) to provide a positive non-flow or shut-ofi position.

Fig. 1l 4is a cross sectional view generally similar to Figs. 3-6 of theembodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 10 with the rotor and stator thereof moved to a position to effect a positive opening of both sets of front and rear doors.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the improved type of valve shown in Figs. 10 and 11 attached to a standard pneumatic system now in usefor selectively opening and closing front and rear sets of doors on automotive buses.Y

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, 20vgenerally indicates an improved serial multi-way valve constructed in accordance with my invention. Said valve comprises a hollow stator 22, having a cylindrical valve seat bore 24 therein provided, if desired, with a smaller bore 25 at the lower end thereof. This smaller bore may be pr`ovided by providing a boss 26 projecting downwardly substantially centrally thereof externally threaded as at 28 `for a purpose to be described. If desired the base of the stator may comprise a plate 30 detachably securable by means of the screws 32 to the lower end of the side wall 34 of the stator, said base plate 30 having the boss 26 projecting downwardly therefrom, said base plate being provided with the bore 25 therein of relatively smaller diameter than the stator bore 24. As shown in the drawings, I preferably provide the cap 40 having the internally threaded bore 36 for threading on the externally threaded boss 26 provided-with an annular washer 42 constructed of leather, fibre or other composition material to provide a seal for the lower end of the boss 26 against the upper inner surface of said cap body. The cap 40 preferably has the central hole 44 for threaded reception of an inlet pipe 46 therein. Said boss 26 is adapted to receive the seal 48 later to be described adapted to rotate therein.

The stator side wan 34 is provided with a. tier 50 of radial holes 52 therein, preferably adapted to have pipes 54 secured in the outer ends thereof, such as by threading them in the outer ends of said holes as shown and it is apparent that said pipes 54 are adapted to perform different ow functions.

I also provide'a cylindrical valve rotor member 56 comprising a solid, preferably metallic cylinder rotatably mounted within said cylindrical stator bore 24. Said rotor 56 is preferably provided with a hole 60 projecting vertically upwardly from the If desired a seal may be provided for the lower end of the rotor projecting downwardly within the bore 25 of smaller diameter below the enlarged cylindrical bore 24 of the stator and for this purpose a boss 64 is preferably provided projecting downwardly centrally of said rotor 56 having an externally threaded portion 66 and an annular washer 68 is provided having an inner edge adapted to abut the upper end of said boss 64 to vproject outwardly substantially the radial distance between the upper end of said boss and the surface of 'said bore 25 and then downwardly as atfl along the surface of said bore 25. Said washer 68 may be secured to the lower end of said rotor by means of the threaded nut 12 threaded onto the threaded boss 64 to clamp the inner edge of said washer 68 against the lower surface ofv the solid cylindrical rotor 56. The washer 68 may be constructed of any suitable flexible resilient material, such as leather or rubber, or fibre impregnated composition but preferably of a resilient material tending to at all times expand to a flat position to cause Athe downwardly projecting portion or skirt 1l) thereof to continuously wipe and seal the inner surface of the bore 25 to positively prevent leakage betweenv adapted to abut the inner end of said enlargedy bore and I provide a cushioning washer cap or cup,18, preferably constructed of leather, rubber or other suitable composition material having a perforation or hole therein of substantially the size of the upper tier holes 52 or slightly smaller as shown and a wall 82 extending axially inwardly of said enlarged bore 14, said cap being mounted on the outer end of said spring 16 to be normally urged outwardly against the inner surface of the stator bore to supplementally provide i a fluid seal at all times.

I also provide means to rotate said rotor 56 within said stator 22 and in my preferred embodiment, said means includes a turning stem 84 projecting integrally upwardly from said rotor 56. I also provide a removable stator cover 86 having the central hole 88 therein for receiving said stator stem 84 and being detachably secured to the upper end of said stator wall 34 by means of the screws 90. The upper end of said rotor stem is provided with a suitable handle 92 for rotating it, tprefelrably projecting radially beyond said sta- I also provide means for indicating proper relative positions of said rotor and stator to provide a predetermined way-flow through the radial holes of said valve rotor and stator or if desired, a complete shut-off.

In my preferred embodiment the indicating portion of said means is preferably mounted on the stator cover 86 andmeaus are supplementally provided on said stator cover 86 and in associationlwith said handle 92 to provide positive stop means for the proper predetermined relatively adjusted positions of said rotor for desired ways of flow through the valve and in my preferred embodiment for this purpose the stator cover 86 is provided rwith the stop recesses 94 and suitable 'indicia 96 are provided on said stator cover at circumferentially spaced points thereof in circumferential alignment. In use, said stop recesses 94 are indicative of predetermined alignments of rotor and stator valve holes 62 and 52 respectively to accomplish a selected predetermined unidirectional flow through said valve and I provide a pointer 98 located at a fixed distance from the handle 92 and rotattained in a suitable bore |04 therefor in said` pointer 98, the lower end of said plug being reciprocally mounted in said bore to be spring urged into a selected stop recess 94 to provide a predetermined unidirectional flow through the radial holes of said valve rotor and stator respectively or a complete shut-off.

I believe that the aforedescribed means are also novel in connection with a single inlet hole in the rotor and a plurality of selective holes in the stator.

I have discovered, however, that supplemental holes may be provided in the stator and rotor and if desired a supplemental tier of holes may be provided in the stator and rotor respectively to multiply the range of possible unidirectional flow connections of the valve by simply adding more holes therein at selective variable spacings to accomplish predetermined flow functions; For this purpose I may provide in said rotor a tier |08 of radial holes H0 extending radially a distance within said stator or in fact any desired direction to achieve a yplurality of supplemental flow functions, said holes i being preferably horizontally aligned with said inlet hole 62, or if desired comprising a plurality of inlet, outlet or exhaust holes.

'A feature, I believe to be entirely novel -to me is to provide in association with said upper respective tier 52 of holes 54 in the stator and tier |08 of holes in the rotor, said tier i0@ also including the special inlet hole 52 if desired, lower tiers of complementary flow holes either exhaust or bypass flow holes, namely, the lower tier H2 of flow holes Il in the stator and the lower tier H6 of lower radial iiow holes HB in said rotor and in my improved construction, I preferably continue said rotor holes ||0 and HB respectively only a slight distance within said rotor and provide the vertical channels |20 connecting the inner ends of said respective upper and lower tiers |08 and H5 of radial holes l' and H8 in said rotor respectively. A constructional feature `of my improved rotor is that the vvertical channels |20 connecting said holes H0 and I|8 may be formed in the solid cylindrical rotor 56 by vertically boring upwardly from the lower end of the rotor to provide said vertical holes |20 from the bottom of the rotor upwards and inserting the threaded plugs |22 in the lower ends of said holes |20 to plug them up so that they provide only interconnecting vertical passageways between the inner ends of the respective radial holes H0 and H8. Depending on the desired conditions of. ow the number of holes in the various respective tiers may be suitably varied. As stated hitherto, the lower tier ||2 of the stator holes H4, the lower tier HB of rotor holes H9, the upper tier |08 of rotor holes ||0 and the vertical interconnecting channels are generally for the purpose of providing ex'- haust passages or bypass passages adapted' to function in association with the main inlet passage 60 and 62 functioning through a selected hole 52 of the upper tier 50 of stator holes as an inlet and if desired the rotor may be so turned as to make any selected hole in the upper tier of rotor holes function through the same selected stator hole 52 as had previously been used as an inlet hole as the portion of an exhaust passage. As there is no exhaust or bypass required when the inlet hole 62 of the rotor is in register with an inlet hole 52 ofthe stator there will be normally no vertically aligned cooperating or bypass hole at the stator at this point and so no vertically extending passage |20. or vertically aligned rotor hole ||8 is provided in the lower tier of the rotor holes immediately below the rotor inlet hole 62 so as to provide a complete shutoff at any selected stator hole 52 temporarily employed as an inlet by having a blank portion of the rotor temporarily opposite the respective exhaust or bypass hole H4 of the rlower tier of stator holes immediately below the stator hole 52 then temporarily used as an inlet hole.

As a greater plurality of exhaust or bypass passages may more often be desired to become respectively aligned with cooperating stator holes to function as bypasses or exhaust passes or for other purposes there are normally a larger plurality of holes in the rotor than there are in the stator, as will become apparent from a description of my improved valve with the stator and rotor holes respectively so variably spaced as to function in association with the cylinder i2| and reservoir |22 of my improved jack having the vertically reciprocatable piston |2li carrying the jack-pad Within the cylinder |20 thereof as described in said aforementioned application. For

this purpose a pipe 51|a connects a hole 52a to the upper end of the reservoir |22 and a pipe 5th conrgiects a hole52b to the upper end of the cylinder As is apparent from the sectional views shown in' Figs. 3.6 when the handle 92 is rotated to rotate the rotorto the position shown in Fig. 3 it becomes apparent that the inlet hole S2 is opposite the hole 52a leading 'to the pipe 5ta connected to the reservoir |22 permitting air to be admitted to the top of the oil in the reservoir |22 forcing oil upwardly as shown in said application within the cylinder |2| causing the piston and piston rod |26 to rise with consequent raising of the jack-pad (see Figs. 3 and A9). From an inspection of Fig. 9 it will be seen that the upper tier. rotor hole H0b is opposite the hole 52h to which the pipe 50h is connected and that as `the piston rises in said cylinder |2|, it will force air outwardly through the pipe 5lib,.th'e aligned hole H0", vertical channel |20b aligned therewith and out through the lower tier hole llb and out throughthe then aligned lower stator tier hole lith exhausting into atmosphere.

As shown in Fig. 4, however, when the rotor 56 is rotated to bring the inlet hole 62 in alignment with the pipe 54h admitting air to the top of the cylinder |2l, it is obvious that air will be exhausted through the pipe 54E, hole 52En aligned therewith through the then aligned upper rotor tier hole I Ill down its respective vertical channel |20a and out through the lower respective tier holes Il!EL and Ha discharging into atmosphere to permit a positive lowering of the jack by means of compressed air.

When, however, the rotor is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, it is obvious that the respective upper rotor tier holes Htlc and H0d will become aligned with the respective pipe ends 54a and 541 and that air will be free to iiow either way through the stator holes 52 and 52h, the

rotor holes ||0 and ||01, the respective `rotor channels |2|'|c and |20d, the respective rotor lower tier holes-||8 and iSd and out through the respective lower stator holes; ||4a and Ildb, thus in the embodiment shown permitting a gravity lowering of thepiston rod |26 within the cylinder |2| with a continuous exhaust passage formed bythe respective holes 52a, |10, |20d,

fi il* and lil son a. continuos air inlet pesage termed by the holes 52" lits, Ime, tlv and Ms permitting the gravity descent.

I have shown in Pig. 6 a positive non-now stop positionwiththerotormovedsothatallthe holes thereof are positively out of t with all the stator holes.

Ihaveshowninlilgs. l-lantof myvalveadapted formewith apnemnaticsystem normally employed for positively opening and closing the front and rear sets of automotive husortrolleycardoors. Saidcsystem includes a source of comprmed air or other ticsupply, suchasthetank |25. Power plants lfand |2Yarepmvidedforopeningor closing the front and rear sets of doors. meh of said power plants, namely.-the power plant lf forthefrmtsetofdooraandthepowerplant IZFIortherearsetof'doorseanprlaacylinder |23t or |28r having outwardly projecting entensions |30' or |33* of smaller diameter. Said extension llfisadaptedtocontainatalltimesthe end |32fofapistonrod lufhavingatltsinner endtheenlargedpistm lfoftheate diameter of ille cylinder Inf. An inlet pipe 4 connectsthesource ofsupplytotheinlethole ofthevalvestatorandhenceholeilofthevalve rotor in the manner explained. A pipe 5I* connects the respective stator upper tier hole 52f to the inner endof the cylinder |28t and a pipe |33f connects the outer end of the cylinder |23t to the source of compressed air or tank |25L The pneumatic device shown operates as follows; when the valve rotor 5i is moved to bring the radial inlet rotor hole 62 in ent with the hole 52fl the compressed air fromthe source of supply E25 ilows through the pipe IE out through the rotor inlet hole i2 through the connected pipe 52x and is discharged at the inner end of the cylinder Inf. At all times the pipe i331 discharges compressed air from the tank |25 at the outer end of the cylinder |23. When the rotor-.valve hole 62 is brought into alignment with the hole 52f, it is obviousthat compressed air will be admitted to the cylinder |23t on both sides of the piston head |36t and as the volume ofthe inner side MIIt ofthe said piston isgreater than the volume of the outer side "2f of said piston which equals the volume of the inner side minus the volume of the piston rod |34t and thus presents only an annular surface 4area. of less extent than the solid circular area |481, it is obvious that due to differences in said areas the greater volume of compressed air functioning against the piston surface Milf of greater area will urge the piston |3if outwardly to positively open the set of front doors. Y

When, however, the rotor valve 56 is rotated to bring the hole 62 out of alignment with the hole .'i2I and a cooperating discharge passage is provided by proper alignments of the hole lli with the stator hole 521, thus providing a continuous exhaust passage through the hole I lllf, the vertical channel |201, the rotor hole ||8f and the lower stator hole Illf, it is obvious that the compressed air functioning against the'annular surface 2f of the piston |36 of smaller area will force the piston to the left permitting air to be discharged through the aligned passages formed by the pipe 54, hole 52f, hole llllf, channel |201, hole ||8f and exhausted out through the stator hole lilf to atmosphere to close the front set of doors. It is apparent that when the hole llf is brought into alignment with the hole 52t in the particular embodiment shown, that there aisance will he a complete reversibillty of flow, for'l the inlet hole 62; will 'be brought into with the upper tier stator hole 52 causing the 'rear set of doors to simultaneously open. re-

of flow is optional as it merely saves supplemental valve positions and cooperating setsofholes. Thetshownisso comtrucd that when the radial inlet hole E2 is brought into alignment with the upper tier hole 525, a T-iitting is provided on the end of the pipe conneeiim W thereof as shown at Ml provided with pipes M6! and MG# connected respectively tothepipesilfanditfcausingasupplyofair to he simul admitted to the inner ends ofthec Inland |2Isimultaneousbto] positively force the respective pistons |34t and |34lr o in the explained toposltivelyopenbothsetsofdoorsatonce. 'Ehevertically set holes III't and III', channels |2If and |231', and holes lllf and MII are also 1 providedtlysothatthevalve rotormaybemovedtoaposiliontobringboth sets of mies Ill' and Ill', etc. into t., with the respective holes 52f and 521' and it is? obvious tlmt when in this podtion the inlet hole 2 vGZvvillheasolidportionoithecylinder walllsothattheeompremedairowingfrom thesourceoaf llithroughthepipes I3!x and iw to the outer ends of the respective cylinders |211f and lll will function against the 3 annular piston surfaces 2f and MF of smaller area to urge the pistons |3f and l361r to close both sets of doors at' once, air exhausting from the inner ends of said cylinders Inf and |23lr simultaneously through the pipes W and 5l! 3 and the exhaust passages to atmosphere formed by the aligned holes 52f and 521', 'IIBt and III", channels |2lf and |261'. holes lltf and lilt and holes Hlf and IMr respectively.

I have shown in the plan view shown in Fig. 10 4 the $6 and stop recesses 3l for accomplshing these dierent functions, a stop recess 89 for neutral position being shown with everything possible shut oi and all rotor holes against solid portions of the stator wall to achieve a 44 positive stop or shut off position.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, I have provided a type of seal of the exact construction functioning in the reverse direction to that in the enlarged bore 'Il of the stator inlet hole 54 62 in the suitably enlarged stator holes 52I and 52r with the exception that the washers 'i8 are normally urged inwardly by the springs 'I6 abutting the pipe ends 5II and 5F and the inner v ends of the respective holes .'52I and 52' are pro- 5t vided with metal plugs |32 centrally perforated as at |34 with holes substantially the size of the radial rotor holes ||0 to prevent leakage on the back ow of air from the respective cylinders |28t and |281'.

It is thus seen that my improved valve may be ,readily adapted to different uses for any desired plurality of unidirectional flow conditions by providing composite sets of holes therefor by merely changing the number and variation in spacings 65 of the sets of holes of the 'respective upper and lower stator and rotor tiers. It is also readily apparent that the valves may be constructed in quantity and after an order has been received holes may then be suitably bored therein for that 70 particular use and it is also apparent that if desired, to change the valve over to a different use, certain holes may then be plugged up and new ones made for the later use.

A further feature of my invention consists in u appended claims.

i I 2,165,096A

providing a cylindrical lining |50 to be inserted between the outer periphery of the rotor 56 and inner surface of the cylindrical stator'bore 25. This preferably comprises a cylindrical steel lining |50 and it is apparent that after the valve has been used for a considerable amount of time and the contacting relatively rotatable surfaces somewhat worn, the play may be taken up by the insertion of a new lining |50, thereby obviating any liability of leakage due to wear of these parts.

It is obvious that I have provided a novel type of valve simple in its construction and readily adaptable by slight changes therein to any selected one or a wide variation of uses involving straight or multi-flow passages.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the What I claim is:

1. A serial multi-way valve, comprising a hollow stator having a cylindrical valve seat bore therein adapted to have an inlet connected ceni trally to the lower end thereof, an upper tier of two circumferentially spaced radial holes adapted to have pipes connected thereto spaced to alternately conjointly function respectively as inlet and outlet holes and a lower complementary tier i of exhaust vholes immediately below said upper tier holes, a cylindrical valve rotor member rotatable within said cylindrical stator bore having an inlet hole extending vertically within to receive fluid from said stator inlet hole and a hole projecting radially outwardly from the upper end of said vertical inlet hole horizontally aligned with said upper tier inlet and outlet holes having an enlarged bore near the .outer end thereof containing a spring outwardly urged cushioning washer having a perforation therein of substantially the size of a respective stator tier hole, said rotor member also having an upper tier of radial holes extending radially a distance Within horizontally aligned with said inlet hole and also horizontally aligned with said upper tier of stator holes, a lower tier of exhaust holes extending a similar distance within vvertically aligned with said upper tier holes and horizontally aligned with the lower tier of stator holes and vertical bores connecting the inner ends of the holes of the upper and lower tiers, said upper and lower rotor tier holes and connecting bores forming rotor exhaust passages, one each of said exhaust passages being so spaced from said rotor inlet passage on each side thereof as. to come into alignment with a set of vertically aligned stator holes to complete an exhaust passage through said valve when the rotor inlet passage is brought adjacent the opposite stator upper tier hole, and two additional of said rotor exhaust passages being spaced from each other amounts equal to the distance between said two sets of stator holes to connect each of said stator upper tier holes to atmosphere to equalize the pressure in each of said holes, and means to rotate said rotor.

2. A serial multi-way valve, comprising a hollow stator having a cylindrical valve seat bore therein adapted to have an inlet connected centrally to the lower end thereof, an upper tier of two circumferentially spaced radial holes adapted to have pipes connected thereto spaced to alternat'ely conjointly function respectively as inlet and outlet holes and a lower complementary tier of exhaust holes immediately below said upper tier holes, a cylindrical valve rotor member rotatable within said cylindrical stator bore having an inlet hole extending vertically Within to receive fluid from said stator inlet hole. and a hole projecting radially outwardly from theupper end of said vertical inlet hole horizontally aligned with said upper tier inlet and outlet holes having an enlarged bore near the outer end thereof conltaining av spring outwardly urged cushioning washer having a perforation therein of substantially the size of a respective stator tier hole, said rotor member also having an upper tier of radial holes extending radially a distance within horizontally aligned'with said inlet hole and also horizontally aligned with said upper tier of stator holes, a lower tier of exhaust holes extending a similar distance within vertically aligned with said lupper tier holes and horizontally aligned with the lower tier of stator holes and vertical bores connecting the inner ends of the holes of the upper and lower tiers, said upper and lower rotor tier holes and connecting bores formingA rotor exhaust passages, one each of said exhaust passages being so spaced from said rotor inlet passage on each side thereof as to come into alignment with a set of vertically aligned stator holes to complete an exhaust passage through said valve when the rotor inlet passage is brought adjacent the opposite stator upper tier hole, and two additional of said rotor exhaust passages being spaced from each other lamounts equal to the distance between said two sets of stator holes to connect each of said stator uppertier holes to atmosphere to equalize the pressure in each of said holes and means to rotate said rotor, each of said stator upper tier holes having an enlarged bore of lesser diameter than that of said enlarged radial rotor inlet 'hole bore near the inner end thereof containing a spring of less strength than that in said radial rotor inlet hole having a cushioning washer on the inner end thereof having a perforation therein of substantially the size of a respective stator tier exhaust hole.

3. A serial multi-way valve comprising a hollow stator having a cylindrical valve seat bore therein adapted to have an inlet connected centrally to the lower end thereofan upper tierof two circumferentially spaced radial holes adapted to have pipes connected thereto spaced to altrnately conjointly function respectively as inlet and outlet holes and a lower complementary tier of exhaust holes immediately below said upper tier holes, a cylindrical valve rotor member rotatable within said cylindrical stator bore having an inlet hole extending vertically within to receive fluid from said stator inlet hole and a hole projecting radially outwardly from the upper end of said vertical inlet hole horizontally aligned with said upper tier inlet holes having an enlarged bore near the outer end thereof containing a spring outwardly urged cushioning washer having a perforation therein of substantially the size of a respective stator tier hole, said rotor member also having an upper tier of radial holes extending radially a distance within horizontally ,f 

